Saturday, March 16, 2013

Lake Powell Houseboating Trip - Part 1

I recently got the opportunity to houseboat on Lake Powell with wife Helen, photographer Gary Ladd, and some other friends both new and old. While many people poo-poo the reservoir as devoid of anything natural, we found many places where the scenery was spectacular and the geology was interesting. I took a lot of photo's so this this is the first of three parts about this 7 day adventure!

Reflections from the marina where we started our trip

The Antelope Cut is closed due to low levels in the reservoir. The level of water for this trip was approximately 3602'. Here Art maneuvers our 53' Adventurer in the old channel of the Colorado River, now some 500 feet beneath the lkae.

Dominguez Rock is a fabulous landform with a base of Navajo Sandstone, a lower apron of the Carmel Formation, sheer walls of the Entrada Sandstone, and a cap of the Romana Sandstone

A typical landing along Lake Powell. Note the gang way that extends from the bow to allow for dry landings!

Three dinosaur footprints preserved in the Navajo Sandstone. On this trip we would see numerous and excellent trackways.

More reflections on a calm winter day

With the reservoir dropping (a normal occurrence in the winter), many pools of clear water can be found perched above the lake. The colors are fantastic.

Darryl angling for as good shot

The master at work. Be sure to see Gary Ladd's portfolio of Lake Powell photographs in the current (April) issue of Arizona Highways magazine.

This pond is about 10 feet above the lake waters below it

A view up Last Chance Bay

Glen Canyon was drowned with rhew filling of Lake Powell but an outer canyon still exists here

Barb Denney and wife Helen enjoying the deck of the houseboat. Barb made a slide show of our adventure and you can watch it here: . Thank you Barb!

See the dinosaur trackway in the shadows of the ledge? These are in the Ramona Sandstone and were made by a dinosaur called Megasauropod.

These are miner's stairs chipped into the Navajo Sandstone along the shoreline. Miners may have been descending to sand bars along the Colorado River for flour gold.

Receding lake levels leave a beautiful pattern of striations on the shore. Each line generally represents a single 24-hour period and this sequence represents almost a month of declining levels.

A drowned ghost forest of tamarisk

Photographers heading up the slickrock for a view

Here is some of what they saw

And this

And this! A snow covered Navajo Mountain in the far distance is a Colorado Plateau laccolith.

Gary brough out his 4X5 camera for the first time in a year and a half

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About Me

I am a geologist, a writer, a river and trail guide and a traveler. Everything seems right when I am on a trail or river watching the earth spin - my cares and worries disappear, my body and mind get exercise, and there is nothing to disturb the ebb and flow of life. Out there is where ideas come to me, where stories flow through me like the rivers that carry me towards home. Now and then, I post ramblings on geology, life in the west and on a living planet, and travels across the globe. Life is good, if only we'd take the time to understand that.

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All In A Days Karma

Thank you for visiting my geology blog! If you enjoyed the blog posts here, you may also be interested in seeing my personal blog called All In A Days Karma. I created this blog in February, 2011 because many friends and readers have requested something a little less scientific with more adventure and observational ramblings. Check it out here.

The Grand Canyon...

I lead geology- and hiking-themed river trips in the Grand Canyon

I Have Served As An On Camera Geologist In Seven Documentaries

This photo is from a helicopter shoot over Canyonlands in 2009 for a National Geographic TV documentary. Other shoots were for The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, PBS Phoenix, and others

San Francisco Peaks Stratovolcano

North of the San Francisco Peaks near my hometown in Flagstaff, Arizona

A Colorado Plateau Look-Alike

Believe it or not in southern Pakistan

Lonquimay Volcano and Auraucaria trees in Chile

My work takes me all over the world...

In Front of an Argentinian Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier, January, 2008

At the pyramids

Giza in Egypt

Mt. Everest in the Himalaya

In 2007 I climbed with friends to the Everest Base Camp

I have been to Africa many times and love it

A hippo enjoys an afternoon swim in Queen Eizabeth National Park, Uganda

In the Galapagos

Unique volcanic islands

Esfahan, Iran

An interesting and beautiful place

I Lecture on Private Jet Trips Around the World

The Explorer jet on the tarmac in Brazil

Argentina and the Andes Mts.

The Perito Moreno Glacier

Ama Dablam in the Himalaya's

On a trek to Kala Patthar, Nepal

The Fisher Towers near Moab,Utah

I love Southwestern Geology!

Earthly Musings

I hope you like this blog - I sure enjoy writing it. As anyone who blogs will know, it is difficult to write all of the time. When I'm out on a trip it is impossible to go online but when I return home, I will have pictures to post. I appreciate you looking in now and then, and seeing what I am up to. Thank you.